Paper Work

The stack of paperwork was plonked down in front of me.

"Of course, we can handle that if you just give us permission."

The single page was placed beside it carefully. I looked it over briefly then cracked my knuckles.

"Nah, I'm good. I'll call you when I'm done."

I began the first page, as they spluttered a muttered threat of no takebacks before they walked out.

Which they probably shouldn't have done, since it gave me a chance to flick forward and realise it was 5 copies of the same form, and there was a photocopier in the room...

Module 24-24-24

Of all the training modules in my space training, in was the only one I didn't understand. If they'd framed it as "don't do this as it will kill you", I'd have understood, but the idea I'd want a peaceful end if there was no hope of rescue, I didn't agree with that, I'd fight all the while.

But now, sitting in a cramped base camp on Mars, knowing no-one else was now coming, all alone with not enough resources to survive long term, I can understand why they wanted to give me the option.

But I'm not taking it.

The Little Things

At times like these, the important thing is to take the small joys where you can find them. You need to do what you can to help and support and all that, but you also need the little things. The little bits of joy that are just for you, to make sure you don't get bogged down and broken down.

For example, I'm having a couple chocolate biscuits a day of my favorite type, just to keep me sane. They come all the way from, let me check the wrapper here...

The child worker capital of the world.

Well, nevertheless...

False Negative

I ran the data through the analysis program five times before I shot him a text and asked him to come to my lab.

He arrived, claiming he didn't have much time, until I told him what the data seemed to be saying. He asked how many times I'd checked it, then watched as I checked it a sixth time.

We called in a couple more colleagues and we all manually checked the raw data, and none of us could spot a problem with it.

So, naturally, we junked it and started fresh, getting data that was clearly more accurate.

The Last Vampire

The Last Vampire, desperate to avoid the fate of all his fellow Vampires, went to fall into a deep sleep for 200 years. Before he did so, he told his slaves to spend that time making sure humans couldn't fight him.

Thus, they spent that time changing what people thought could hurt Vampires. Writing stories, 'correcting' records, making it so everyone thought harmless stuff like garlic and sunlight would hurt Vampires.

When the Last Vampire awoke, he was briefly distressed to discover that since everyone believed these things harmed him, they did so.

Briefly, because he emerged into full sunlight. 

Faith

The child was found on the steps of the convent, in the dead of night. The Sisterhood took the child in, and intended on caring for the child until they found a more suitable home.

But as the weeks passed, every letter was returned with an apology that there was no room for another.

Weeks turned to months, and they stopped sending letters.

17 years and 360 days after that night, a battalion of the King's guard arrived, looking for a long lost heir.

But when they found out the child was female, they decided they'd clearly made a mistake.

Sober Reflections

Fuck.

Fuck fuck fuck.

Fuck, right, and fuck on top of that, and an extra fuck to top it off.

FUCK.

Just... Fuck, what the fuck? How the fuck did that Fuck fucking fuck up so badly yet here we fucking are?

Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!

And I'm one of the fucking lucky fuckers, relatively, as I'm fucking well down the fucking list unless I fuck enough fucking shit up to force myself up the fucking list.

Fuck.

And I know, fucking "survive and resist", fuck yeah, don't get me fucking wrong, but right now? 

Fuck. Until further notice.

Bright Spark

Getting struck by lightning was the most painful moment of my life, so far.

At least, I assume that was what happened. I was heading towards the tree that idiot had gotten under, trying to warn them, and then suddenly I was looking up at the sky, smelling burnt flesh and feeling every inch of my body complaining.

After a moment, I heard their voice.

"OK, just stay there, lightning doesn't strike the same place twice!"

I sat up to tell them that was a myth.

Getting hit by lightning for a second time took the crown from the first.

Lyon, The Master Thief

I woke up to find myself handcuffed to a table, interrogation style, the man across from me wearing sunglasses and a suit only further confirming the situation.

"Ah, good, you're finally awake. Now, I assume you understand why you're here?"

I blinked a few times.

"I don't know who you are, where I am, what's going on, or anything else pertaining to your question!"

"Oh please, just because we captured you easily, Lyon, doesn't mean you can play that card!"

"It's not a card, i don't know this Lyon-"

"How did you know it was with a Y then?"

"What?"

Alexandria's Quest

The Time Traveler, once he was sure he hadn't been spotted, stepped out from around a pillar and approached a man hurriedly sorting certain scrolls into a wooden box.

"Greetings worker! Are the Romans coming?"

The man looked at the Traveller, who was worried his AI translation wasn't working, until the man sighed.

"English, Putonghua, Esperanto, or Spanhinese?"

"Uh, English, but how-"

"Ah, right. So you're here to try and stop the Great Library here from burning?"

"Of course, I-"

The man shot him, finished collecting the scrolls about time travellers in his box and then started a big fire.

Tomoka's Song

I stood on the rooftop, looking down at the concrete below, and prepared to step off.

And then I heard the tune.

It was simple, maybe 20 notes. And it wasn't being performed well.

But it was her tune. The tune she played for me the first night I was in her apartment, the night I truly fell in love with her, and she fell in love with me.

That was enough to pull me back from the brink, as I headed down to find who was playing it.

Turned out to be some Easter egg tune from video games? 

Universe XXX000XXX

After another hour spent trying to convince them I was from another universe, I almost gave up, before trying one last attack.

"OK, you keep telling me the multiverse theory is impossible, why do you think that?"

The supposed scientist chuckled and leaned forward.

"Simple. The theory holds that every possibility, every potential reality exists, yes?"

"I mean, the eggheads back home wouldn't put it like that, but yeah, sure."

"So, if that's true, then there must be a universe that creates a force that would destroy all of us. And since that hasn't-"

"WHY DO YOU THINK I'M HERE?!?"